SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
Wednesday - Hebrews

  • 1. Jesus is God’s Prophetic Voice – (vv.1-2a)

    Notice the emphasis on the continuity between the Old and New Testaments – (v.1)
    Christ does not breakwith the great Jewish past. He comes to bring it to fulfilment. Without Jesus the O.T. revelation is partial, fragmentary, preparatory, and incomplete.
    God spoke at different times – (Jeremiah 7:25; 26:5; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4) (Hosea 12:10) (Acts 3:21, 24)
    Acts 3:21 CSB
    Heaven must receive him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning.
    And by different means
    Daniel 9:6 CSB
    We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the people of the land.
    ​
    But in Christ he spoke fully, decisively, finally, and perfectly!
    Raymond Brown: “The first-century Christians must listen to him, the greatest prophet of all times. Ezekiel portrayed the glory of God, but Christ reflected it (1:3). Isaiah expounded the natureof God as holy, righteous and merciful, but Christ manifested it (1:3). Jeremiahdescribed the power of God, but Christ displayed it (1:3). He far surpassed the best of prophets of earlier times, and these wavering Christians must listen to his voice.”
    (v.2a) – “…he has spoken to us”
    Again, from Allen,
    The most salient verb in the paragraph, the load-bearing wall of the semantic structure, is the aorist elalēsen (“has spoken”). Everything in the exordium [introduction] (Heb 1:1–4) ultimately revolves around this verb and around the proposition “God … has spoken to us by his Son.” The subject “God” precedes the participle in v. 1 so that there is a significant amount of material between the subject and the verb. This particular verb occurs 16 times in Hebrews, 10 of which have God as the subject. Its synonym legōoccurs 31 times, 16 with God as the subject; Christ is the subject three times and the Holy Spirit once. The semantic difference would appear to be that laleō focuses on the act of speaking rather than remaining silent, and legōfocuses more on the content of what is said. The term logos (“word”) appears six times in Hebrews for divine revelation (2:2; 4:2, 12; 5:13; 12:19; 13:7), and its synonym rhēma (“word” or “utterance”) occurs four times (1:3; 6:5; 11:3; 12:19).
    THE POINT: God has spoken TO US! He has something to say, and He says it through Jesus!

    2. Jesus is God’s Son – (v.2a)

    “In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son…”
    That Jesus is the Son of God becomes the dominant/recurrent theme of the letter!
    (Hebrews 1:5, 8; 3:6; 4:14; 5:5, 8; 6:6; 7:28; 10:29)
    Perhaps those Jewish Christians whose faith in Christ was faltering may have come to regard him merely as a good man, a captivating teacher, or an impressive leader. There are many today who would echo those words. Jesus is much more. Jesus is the Son of God!
    Furthermore, “the Son” is God’s speech to us! – (John 1:18)
    J. Scott Lidgett entitles his commentary of Hebrews, Sonship and Salvation!
    It is an excellent reminder of this epistle’s leading ideas. Because these two ideas are inseparably united, apostasy is so serious and disastrous. Without the work of the Son there is no salvation. Those who deliberately and persistently spurn the Son of God (10:29) are inevitably exposed to spiritual atrophy. How can they possibly be brought to repentance when there is no salvation outside Christ? They have refused to walk in the only way ordained by God. They have opposed the truth revealed by God. They have despised the life approved by God. How can man hope to be saved if he rejects the Saviour?
    APPLICATION: (Matthew 16:13-18) (John 14:6)

    3. Jesus is God’s Appointed Heir – (v.2b)

    “God has appointed him heir of all things...”
    Certainly, one cannot help but think of (Psalm 2:7-8)!
    But surely by describing Christ as ‘heir of all things’, he intends to convey to us the idea that the Lord Jesus will inherit not only this earth but the entire universe.
    This is stated at the end of (Colossians 1:16) – “…all things have been created through him and for him.”
    Colossians 1:16 CSB
    For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
    APPLICATION: “Why is this important to believers?”
    Romans 8:16–17 CSB
    The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
    (Romans 8:16-17) – We are “…heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ.”
    Galatians 3:27–29 CSB
    For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.
    (Galatians 3:27-29) – We are “…heirs according to the promise.”

    4. Jesus is God’s Creative Agent – (v.2c)

    (v.2c) – “…and made the universe through him.”
    Here we move from Christ’s destiny (heir) to his role in the beginning—the agent of God’s creation!
    John 1:1–4 CSB
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
    John 1:1-4
    John 1:10 CSB
    He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.
    1 Corinthians 8:6 CSB
    yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
    1 Corinthians 8:6
    Colossians 1:15–16 CSB
    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
    Colossians 1:15-16
    Hebrews 11:3 CSB
    By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
    Hebrews 11:3
    APPLICATION? There are at least TWO:
    · First, is the clear statement of Jesus Christ’s DIETY!
    · Second, I would like to give you two quotes:
    o David Allen - From the author’s comment that “the universe was formed at God’s command” (Heb 11:3), it is clear that the author conceived of creation as an intrinsically verbal event that reveals the God who spoke it into being.
    o Hendrikus Berkhof - “We confess our belief in creation with an eye to Christ. From Him we learn the final purpose of creation … Creation is the preamble to salvation.”
    When you marry these thoughts, you are left with the truth that Jesus Christ—the Word of God who created everything we see by His spoken word is the One who speaks life to us!
    (John 11:25-27)
    Jesus’ work in Creation is the PROOF of His ability to recreate you and me!
    Romans 8:11 CSB
    And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

    5. Jesus is God’s Personified Glory – (v.3)

    “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory…”
    For the Hebrew people the glory of God was a visible and outward expression of the majestic presence of God.
    · When the law was given at Sinai ‘the glory of the Lord’ settled on the mountain. Likewise, the glory of God became manifest at ‘the tent of meeting’; it was a visible sign to God’s people of his continuing presence – (Exodus 24:15-17)
    · Later, when the ark of God was captured, the Hebrew people lamented, “The glory has departed…” – (1 Samuel 4:21-22)
    Now, says the author of this letter, in these last days this same glory has been seen in the person of Christ who reflects or is “…the radiance of God’s glory.”
    The word used (apaugasma) is only used here in the NT and can mean either ‘radiation out from’ (*ACTIVE) or ‘reflection back’ (PASSIVE). Either way, Jesus REFLECTS God, or RADIATES God—I believe Jesus did both!
    · He RADIATED the glory of God by what He DID!
    (John 8:12b) – “…I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
    · He REFLECTED the glory of God by WHO HE WAS!
    APPLICATION: You might be thinking, “That was Jesus, but this is me. How do I apply who Jesus was and what He did to my life?”
    · “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words!”
    · “What you are speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying!”
    2 Corinthians 4:1–6 CSB
    Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
    The truth is we all share the radiance of God in our lives!
    Matthew 5:16 CSB
    In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
    Matthew 5:16
    Philippians 2:15 CSB
    so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,
    Philippians 2:15
    “I’m not sure I shine very bright…” Cheer up! One day you will! –
    Matthew 13:43 CSB
    Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.

    6. Jesus is God’s Perfect Revelation of Himself – (v.3b)

    (v.3b) – “…the exact expression of his nature”
    How can this writer impress upon his readers the message of Christ’s person? He insists that Jesus bears the very stamp of God’s nature. All the attributes of God became visible in him.
    The stamp(exact expression) vividly presents the picture of an image or superscription on a coin or medal. It exactly and perfectly matches the picture on the die.
    The verbal form of the word used here (χαρακτὴρ) means ‘to engrave’. In other words, if man wants to see God he must look to Christ.
    John 14:9 CSB
    Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
    The word translated ‘nature’ (ὑποστάσεως) here describes the very essence and actual being of God.
    Colossians 1:15 CSB
    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
    Colossians 1:19 CSB
    For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
    Colossians 2:9 CSB
    For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,
    APPLICATION: You may be thinking, “This is all great stuff Pastor, but what relevance is this to my life?”
    2 Corinthians 3:18 CSB
    We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
    The Spirit of God reflects the GLORY of God from the WORD of God and in the process, we are TRANSFORMED!

    7. Jesus is God’s Cosmic Sustainer – (v.3c)

    “…sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
    One commentary sees this transition as, “…moving from Jesus’ relationship to God to His relationship to creation.”
    I prefer Raymond Brown’s view that,
    This letter’s introductory exposition of the superiority and adequacy of Christ moves on to its dramatic climax as mention is made of Christ’s present work in the universe. He keeps the planets in orbit by his authoritative and effective word of power. It is the author’s compelling way of emphasizing Christ’s equality with God. Every Jew passionately believed that Almighty God kept the entire universe in the hollow of his hand. He is not only creator but sustainer. Quite deliberately this is described as part of Christ’s present role. The word of authority which has been proclaimed by the Lord as prophet is the same word which holds the universe in order.
    While admittedly there is little difference between the views, I like the emphasis on what Jesus is doing right now!
    Colossians 1:17 CSB
    He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
    Christ’s word is powerful and able to do what He determines! He speaks and what He commands is done.
    He has spoken in their hearts and what he demands can most certainly be accomplished whatever opposition and persecution they may encounter!
    APPLICATION: “How does Jesus being the sustainer of all things apply to me?”
    Colossians 2:6 CSB
    So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him,
    Colossians 2:6
    “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him,“
    We BEGIN by faith in Jesus; we CONTINUE our Christian walk by faith in Jesus!
    It’s not just believing in Jesus as a start to my Christian life but believing that Jesus is the One who will SUSTAIN me as a Christian!
    REMEMBER POINT #4: Jesus’ work in Creation is the PROOF of His ability to recreate you and me!
    If Jesus is “…sustaining all things by his powerful word,” do you believe He can sustain you as well?
    Philippians 1:6 CSB
    I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
    Philippians 1:6
    R. Brown: Possibly our vision of Christ is limited. We are in danger of confining him to our restricted experience or limited knowledge. We need a vision of Christ with these immense cosmic dimensions, a Christ who transcends all our noblest thoughts about him and all our best experience of him. These first-century readers would be less likely to turn from him in adversity if they had looked to him in adoration. The opening sentences of the letter are designed to bring them and us to our knees; only then can we hope to stand firmly on our feet.
    The Apostle Paul stated this way: (Ephesians 3:20)
    Ephesians 3:20 CSB
    Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—
    We will give Jesus’ half-brother the last word on this point:
    Jude 24–25 CSB
    Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

    8. Jesus is God’s Unique Sacrifice – (v.3d)

    “…After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
    In presenting this impressive opening exposition of God’s Son, the author rightly emphasizes Christ’s work in redemption as well as creation—which will become a central theme in the chapters to come.
    At this point our attention is turned from who Christ is to what he did!
    The text is straightforward. Jesus did two things:

    · FIRST, He made “…purification for sins”

    If I were to attempt read all the passages that speaks of the purification from sins, we would be here the remainder of the evening. Let me share two:
    2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB
    He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
    Hebrews 10:14 CSB
    For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
    ​

    · SECOND, He “…sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

    Philip Hughes reminds us that there is a contrast here which ought not to be missed. Jesus is ceaselessly ‘the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature’ (jb). He continuously upholds ‘the universe by his word of power’. But when he gave himself up on the cross Jesus shed his blood once for all at a single point in time. No repetition of this saving act will ever be necessary, nor can anything that we do serve to procure our own salvation. Christ is God’s unrepeatable sacrificial provision for the greatest problem of mankind—sin.
    There was no seat in the Holy of Holies! Why?Because the work was never finished!
    However, Christ’s saving death was a finished work! There is nothing more that is needed.

    CONCLUSION

    The first few sentences of Hebrew confront the reader with one of the most important issues in the contemporary theological debate, the doctrine of the person of JESUS Christ.
    Raymond Brown: This letter’s lofty teaching about the person and work of Christ, expounded with the aid of arresting titles of Jesus, is a stark challenge to modern humanitarian Christologies, most of which tend to reduce Jesus to an inspired man with a unique sense of religious destiny, or an outstanding example of benevolent concern and altruistic service, or a fervent zealot with a passion for liberation, usually interpreted in political terms. Whilst preserving the important truth of Christ’s essential humanity, this letter presents its readers with a revelation of Jesus in his matchless deity. He is the enthroned Lord, worthy of all our honor and worship.
    Hebrews introduces us to a Christ whose perfect sinless nature is a unique revelation, whose sacrifice is alone effective for our salvation, and whose authority in heaven and on earth is without rival.

      • Acts 3:21CSB

      • Daniel 9:6CSB

      • Matthew 16:13–18CSB

      • John 14:6CSB

      • Colossians 1:16CSB

      • Romans 8:16–17CSB

      • Galatians 3:27–29CSB

      • John 1:1–4CSB

      • John 1:10CSB

      • 1 Corinthians 8:6CSB

      • Colossians 1:15–16CSB

      • Hebrews 11:3CSB

      • Romans 8:11CSB

      • 2 Corinthians 4:1–6CSB

      • Matthew 5:16CSB

      • Philippians 2:15CSB

      • Matthew 13:43CSB

      • John 14:9CSB

      • Colossians 1:15CSB

      • Colossians 1:19CSB

      • Colossians 2:9CSB

      • 2 Corinthians 3:18CSB

      • Colossians 1:17CSB

      • Colossians 2:6CSB

      • Philippians 1:6CSB

      • Ephesians 3:20CSB

      • Jude 24–25CSB

      • 2 Corinthians 5:21CSB

      • Hebrews 10:14CSB

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